Check protector



H. KEETON mm. m, H3949 CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 9, 1948 ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHECK PROTECTOR Hollis Keeton, San Angelo, Tex.

Application September 9, 1948, Serial No. 48,428

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to marking devices, and more particularly to a device for marking a margin of a check bearing suitable indicia, so as to indelibl-y indicate the maximum amount for whichthe check is drawn in the usual manner by words and gures.

Various devices have been proposed for this purpose and some are in use, notably by the postoiice department in connection with money `orders in which the ends of the checks are inscribed in a vertical column with numerals indicating progressive amounts, and means are made to indent or mark the adjacent end portion of the check to indicate a particular amount.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of extreme simplicity and minimum cost which can be readily applied to a check book of usual form and which will automatically adjust itself to cooperate properly with the topmost check as the checks are successively removed from the book, thus reducing the thickness of the remaining portion of the book.

Further objects will more particularly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specication as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the improved device applied and in operative position upon a check book;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective showing the various parts of the improved device preliminary to assembly;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the improved marker partly in cross section; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of a check stub and check, showing the marking of both stub and check as produced by the device.

A well known system for protecting bank accounts in the making of checks, is to provide the checks adjacent one end, usually the stub end, with a vertical column bearing numerical indicia of successively increasing amounts, and in the removal of the check to so tear the adjacent margin as to indicate a specific amount above which the check should not be recognized. In accordance with the present invention, an extremelysimple device which can be easily applied to a conventionally-shaped check book and which can be removed and adjusted to additional books as desired, is provided, the device comprising essentially a strap of resilient material I bent adjacent its ends into extensions 2-2 perpendicular to the major plane of the strap, and in the form herein illustrated having the extreme end portions 3-3 bent outwardly to form securing lugs for a bridging member. This body portion of the device may be regarded as a saddle inember adapted to snugly embrace the back and opposed side edges of a check book, the end portions 2-2 being of sufficient length to accommodate the full thickness of a normal check book of the type having the checks associated with end stubs.

With this saddle member I is associated a bridging strap 4 slightly wider than the saddle strap I, this bridging strap 4 being provided adjacent each end with a cut-out portion 5 of suitable dimensions to pass over the outwardly projecting lugs 3-3 of the saddle member, and preferably the extreme end portions of the bridging member 4 are bent slightly downwardly as at E to present a smooth outer edge and a sharp engagement inner edge to contact the under race of the outwardly directed lugs 3-3.

Upon the bridging strap 4 is slidably positioned a marker element 'I, herein illustrated as a strap of thin steel or similar hard material bent to embrace the strap 4 and having on its end portions V-shaped projections 8 adapted to overlie one the other and form an outwardly directed cutting element. This cutting element comprising the members 8, is directed from one edge of the strap 4 which constitutes a straight cutting edge by means of which a check C can be severed from the stub S when desired.

In use the saddle member I is placed around the check book, as illustrated in Figure 1, and the bridging strap 4 is engaged by passing the outwardly directed lugs 3-3 of the saddle member through the cut-outs 5 adjacent each end of the bridging member, the device being arranged upon the check book so that the cutter element 8 'will be directed toward the check C, the check C being provided With a vertical column I0 upon which is imprinted a plurality of numerical indicia indicating progressively larger amounts from the top to the bottom. Conveniently, a similar column can be imprinted on the stub provided with similar numerical indicia, and horizontal lines can be extended from each numerical indicia on the stub to the corresponding indicia on the check. With such an arrangement of the stub and check it will be apparent that with the device arranged as explained the removal of a check will result in the formation of a notch in the marginal edge of the check and a corresponding projecting tooth on the marginal edge of the stub providing positive and unalterable indications of the maximum amount for which the specivc check has been drawn. I

It will be apparent from the construction of the device as thus explained that the bridging.

member 4 is free to slide vertically upon the parallel portions 2--2 of the saddle member, so that as the thickness of the check book decreases through the removal Vof successive checks the bridging member 4 will fall and always remain in constant close tearing pressure with the surface of the uppermost stub and check.

Upon the exhaustion of one check book the device can be readily removed and positioned on the new check book, so that its life is indefinite.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

Marker for checks comprising, a resilient strap bent adjacent each end to substantially channel shape and proportioned to embrace the back and side edges of a check book, the end portions of said strap bent outwardly to provide terminal lugs, a strap member formed with along straight edge, with orices adjacent each end through which said terminal lugs can pass, said strap adapted to lie upon the face of the check to be marked and to be freely slidable on the end portions of the channel-shaped member, and a slide on said strap having an outwardly directed tooth extending beyond the straight edge of said strap.

HOLLIS KEETON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 553,620 Joslin Jan. 28, 1896 1,390,620 Jones Sept. 13, 1921 1,755,201 Blackburn Apr. 22, 1930 2,336,061 Brennan Dec. '7, 1943 

